JHS principal tenders resignation after guilty plea

February 7, 2014

Jefferson High School principal Howard Guth, 58, has tendered his resignation following entering a guilty plea in a Maryland court. The plea came last week following a charge of criminally negligent manslaughter after Guths car struck a pedestrian last March.

Guth struck Priyanka Malik, 26, as she crossed Sharpsburg Pike on foot on March 11, 2013. Priyanka later died from the injuries sustained.

Other charges that were dismissed in the plea deal included driving under the influence of alcohol. Two other charges from that incident, speeding and driving left of center, were dismissed against him, magistrate records show.

He previously received probation before judgment in 2002 after being charged with driving under the influence, according to The Associated Press.

Guth was sentenced to 18 months in jail with all but nine days suspended. He will serve those nine days on weekends.

Superintendent Susan Wall confirmed that the Board of Education has received Guths resignation but referred all questions to the Board's legal counsel.

A special meeting has been set by the Board for Thursday to consider accepting the resignation.